In the immortal words of Ron Burgundy: “Boy, that escalated quickly!” Had you told me beforehand that one of the Super Bowl teams would score 43 points and win, I would have assumed that was Denver. But, nope! We got a 43-8 slobber-knocker of a victory, courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks and their “Legion of […]
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AREA ATHLETES SIGN SCHOLARSHIPS
Plant City-area high school athletes signed letters of intent to take their talents to college Feb. 5, during National Signing Day. We congratulate all the hometown stars who just made their college decisions official. PLANT CITY Golf: Kellyanne Hurst (Navy) Football: Montel McBride (Alabama), Sedrick King (Nebraska), Jyquis Thomas (Temple), Landon Galloway (Air Force), John […]
Continue ReadingAustin Carswell Transfers to Plant City
Strawberry Crest’s football program has taken a notable loss, as versatile junior Austin Carswell has transferred to Plant City High School. According to Raiders defensive coordinator Greg Meyer, Carswell, who filled in at quarterback in 2013, enrolled and started classes on Jan. 30. “We are ecstatic,” Meyer says. The reason for the switch, according to […]
Continue ReadingDREW KNOTTS: From the pageant to the pitch
If there’s one thing Drew Knotts is grateful for, it’s that her pageant dresses have to be long ones. They hide all of the bruises on her legs that come from playing soccer. Some of her games have happened while she was active on the Plant City pageant circuit. This year, in particular, already has […]
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BASKETBALL + Kids compete at annual Tri-Star Plant City youth competed in the Optimist Club’s 41st Tri-Star Basketball Skills Contest Jan. 25, at Tomlin Middle School. Kids from different age groups participated in three events — dribbling, passing and shooting drills. Thirteen-year-old Mackenzie Steele’s 177 total points was the highest total of the competition, and 11-year-old […]
Continue ReadingAndre Lewis, La’Tosha Lewis lead standout basketball program
Andre and La’Tosha Lewis aren’t married — or even related. They’re just two basketball coaches who happened upon the same school at the same time. Now, they do just about everything together. “You could say that’s my brother, at work,” La’Tosha says. “We’re real close.” They teach P.E. and driver’s education at Strawberry Crest High […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lacey Hargrove
Plant City’s core is very young — two sophomores, and a freshman. That freshman, Lacey Hargrove, had herself a solid week to close out the school’s best season since 2007: Hargrove’s 13 points led her team in a 36-32 loss to Riverview, and she scored 16 to help the Lady Raiders beat Durant, 50-42, Jan. […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? On getting struck out by a girl
When I took this job in September 2013, one of the first things that Matt Mauney told me during training was about this great video idea he had but never got around to doing. He filled me in on the story of Durant High’s Chelsea Baker, known as the “Knuckleball Princess,” and said taking an […]
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SOCCER + Lady Raiders win district crown As many expected, Plant City High School just completed its first-ever district three-peat. The first two rounds of the tournament were a breeze for the Lady Raiders, who outscored both opponents 12-0. Ericka Lott registered a hat trick in the first round against Blake High School, and five of […]
Continue ReadingSawyer Dawson, Austin Carswell scout players at Under Armour Combine
Plant City having a presence at the annual Under Armour Combine is nothing new. But this year, two of the area’s best juniors got to experience it from a new perspective. Plant City’s Sawyer Dawson and Strawberry Crest’s Austin Carswell made the trek Jan. 2, to Tropicana Field — with sideline passes, granting them the […]
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